The Giants had interest in Mark Trumbo, who ultimately was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks this afternoon. General manager Brian Sabean has noted that teams are out there looking for MLB-ready talent, something the Diamondbacks had in Adam Eaton and Tyler Skaggs. The Giants don’t have those players, but they’re on the way. Rival scouts rave about the talent that took the mound in Augusta and San Jose last season, and the Giants are thrilled with the group, too. The phone calls from opposing front offices have only confirmed that Kyle Crick, Edwin Escobar, Chris Stratton, Adalberto Mejia and others are highly thought of around the game.

“We really are satisfied that internally we’re evaluating this group fairly,” Sabean said, “And the report card back on that is basically who gets asked about.”

We asked Sabean about some of his top guys. Here’s what he had to say:

Edwin Escobar (Sabean said he’s likely headed for Triple-A): “Escobar has been asked about quite a bit, which is good. He’s right on schedule to take the next step and have a baseline of innings for being called up, or if he’s not called up he’ll have 185-plus innings at the end of next year. He’s a strike-thrower. He’s very aggressive in the zone.”

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Kyle Crick: “Crick kind of had a chopped up season. Whether it’s him or any prospect or almost any pitcher in that (fall) league, sometimes the stat line doesn’t tell you the best story. He had real good, inconsistent stuff. The power to his stuff was impressive.”

Derek Law: “Obviously was dominant and didn’t give up a run (in the AFL) and it really turned our heads because it by and large is a hitters’ league … I’m really interested to see what he does against Major League hitters in spring training. He’s got a breaking ball, being that hard overhand curveball that you don’t see. The action is almost like a splitter.”

Adalberto Mejia: “It’s just about overall maturation. He’s a big-bodied guy who is still learning his delivery, balance in his delivery.”Andrew Susac: “I think we all agree that he’s got a chance to be a frontline catcher. He had a real good fall league. He’s got to clean up some things, concentration behind the plate from pitch to pitch. He needs to work on his shifting and his blocking but that’s true for any catcher as they go through the minor leagues.”

— The price of doing business right now if you’re looking for a right-handed hitting outfielder on a short deal? Try two years, $10 million, which is what Rajai Davis got from the Tigers. He hasn’t OPS’d over .700 since 2009, so you can see why the Giants — at least on December 10 — are okay with Juan Perez and his spectacular glove as the right-handed partner for Gregor Blanco.

“That’s forgotten sometimes that we do have a pretty good player who came up through our system, the second time around was much more relaxed, a different player, so much more comfortable at the plate,” Bochy said of Perez. “And a gifted defender that can play anywhere. So that’s a pretty good safety valve, backup, if we do go that way. He’s gotten better and better each year, from Triple‑A, and the second time he was called up with us we saw a different player. And he’s turned it on in the Dominican recently. A speed guy, good arm defender. I’m pretty comfortable if nothing happens at least we have him there to help us.”

— There’s an odd Twitter fascination with uniform numbers, so: Tim Hudson chose to wear No. 17 since Bochy is still rocking 15. The Giants surely hope this turns out better than their last experience with a veteran No. 17 who had a two-year deal.

— The San Jose Giants sent out their updated schedule today, which reminds me: If you live in the Bay Area, those games are highly, highly recommended. I made it down there once last season on a random August weeknight and saw Crick start, Law close and Mac Williamson reach base four or five times. It’s a great place to see some of the organization’s future stars.

— Plenty of calls have come in on Escobar and Hector Sanchez, the latter of whom is said to be doing well health-wise after an up-and-down year. “People look at him as a potential frontline catcher,” Sabean said.

— Sabean said the Giants have a sheet that’s updated every week and shows depth charts and strengths and needs for each team. How do the Giants stack up on the sheet?

“We need a left fielder, we need good health, we need more depth,” Sabean said.

I really like Perez. It’d be a great if he could take a big step forward in 2014. I’m kind of rooting against another left fielder.

Moooooooooose

Me too. Although I felt that way about Blanco last year at this time.

dgg

Tweet from Kim Hudson:

“Tim will be wearing #17 for the @SFGiants. The significance: Kade’s 3rd grade football number. ❤”

Nate’sFanMom

I hope they’re at least considering Michael Morse. I like Juan Perez, too, but I don’t like third place in the division.

pacman68

Left field, bench depth and more arms.

Get it done Sabean!!!

Bapah

I wonder what Brian is willing to sacrifice for Rasmus. it appears Jays are interested in starters and Colby is on the block.

DrLefty

I was just reading about him, too. The Jays want young, controllable pitching for their “3-5 year window.” I’m sure they’d prefer a starter ready now, but maybe they’d take one ready in a year?

Bapah

Colby has 1, maybe 2 years left, It could be this is the type of deal Sabes would do providing there’s interest in other than the top kids. I’m sure some of the press the Giants have gotten lately is chum for something like this.

DrLefty

I just looked Rasmus up. One year until free agency. He’s a lefty and middle-of-the-pack offensively and defensively, but he’d be an upgrade from a Blanco/Perez platoon. Pretty similar numbers to Angel Pagan but with a lot more homers and without the stolen bases.

Rasmus has played almost no innings in corners, so if they obtained him, it might mean moving Angel to left for next year, which is not a bad thing.

DrLefty

We’ve said this before, but the Giants are going to be in much better shape, trade-wise, a year from now and going forward. Other teams may love the Giants’ collection of young arms, but no one’s going to give you that much for a guy in A ball, no matter how much scouts like him. But a guy who finished AA and could be ready for the majors in a year or less?

That whole terrific San Jose rotation is going to be in AA this year, with Escobar likely in AAA. Same with all those great relievers. Then there’s Andrew Susac; you figure a year from now either he or Hector is a great trade chip.

DrLefty

I like Perez, too, and I love hearing Bochy talk so positively about him; as we know, when it comes to young players, he’s not a gusher. We’re always wanting the Giants to give their prospects a real chance, and now they may do just that with Perez.

In some ways, it’s too much to hope for. I’m bracing myself for this year’s version of Jeff Francoeur et al.

Bapah

To be perfectly honest, I’d be happy starting the season with Shark and Perez. I think Perez might have more upside than most think. I was happy with Blanco 2 years ago, but I think his smarts has been a disappointing so no long term commitment. If Perez starts strong, I think the team will stick with him. It’s a crap shoot though.

Bapah

Sure hope it’s Hector that is bait; I really like Susac.

Bapah

Blanco just isn’t a good “learner.”

DrLefty

I agree. It’s better than last year’s plan, which was platooning Blanco with 35-year-old Torres. I LOVE Yungo, but it had been pretty obvious for a couple years that his time was about up, except maybe as a fifth outfielder/pinch-runner type.

The problem is still depth. Last year they went into the season with a ton of outfielders in Fresno–Brown, Peguero, Perez, Kieschnick, Gillespie. So many that they made Perez play the infield–and he’s a stellar outfielder! Gillespie and Peguero are gone, Perez will be on the big club, and I’ve seen enough of Kieschnick, thanks. So what happens if Angel gets hurt again? It would really, really help if Brown would find himself somehow.

DrLefty

I think it will be. Sounds like other teams are really interested in Hector, and you’d think the Giants would want to keep a second-round draft pick they’ve been developing.

DrLefty

…On the other hand, if young, cheap, and controllable is the coin of the realm, well, tick tock on Hector. He’s still very young–just turned 24–but he’ll be arbitration eligible after next year.

DrLefty

I’m not sure about that. He was terrific in 2012–excellent base runner, fantastic at outfield positioning (Cain’s perfect game, World Series highlight catches). He wrote in his blog that he pays attention to where each pitch is going so that he can get the right jump on a ball. That doesn’t sound like someone who isn’t trying to study and improve his game.

I know 2013 was rough for him. Maybe he put too much pressure on himself after Angel’s injury. In my experience, stress can make you stupid.

Bapah

Even HS players watch pitch location for positioning. I also love his abilities in the outfield, but his all around game has fallen some, especially his situational hitting. I think Perez could be an everyday player, plus his arm is more reliable than Puig and he’s more coachable. ( I just hope the doyers don’t pick up on the idea of Puig for Stanton.) I like Blanco and was a supporter of his that first year. I think there is a good chance Blanco and Hector get bundled in the future.

Bapah

I had a question when Pegs was picked up on waivers. Does he have to be on the 25-man all this year for O’s?

DrLefty

No–you’re thinking of the Rule 5 draft rules. They did have to put him right on their 40-man roster, but there’s no obligation to ever return him to the Giants.

DrLefty

Just saw a Tweet saying the Giants are indeed talking to Michael Morse. Quote from Peter Gammons: “After all, they played Pat Burrell in LF.”

DrLefty

What’s odd is that the first couple months of 2013–before Angel was injured–Blanco was the BEST situational hitter on the team, just lurking down there around the 7th position. His OPS with RISP and especially RISP/2 outs was by far the best on the team. After him was Angel. So when Angel got injured and Blanco had to play everyday, they really lost both of them in those money situations.

Peter Johnson

Marlins are shopping Justin Ruggiano according to @JoeFrisario, he kills Left handed pitching last 2 years against against them, 224AB-15HR-22doubles-600SLG%. They are looking for Relief pitching, are 3B, he is 1st year ARB elgable .

What you said above is basically what I’ve said about the San Jose/Augusta youngsters. Their value won’t really kick in until they’ve established themselves at AA and are a step or two removed from the big show. It’s the reason I exercise some caution and skepticism. So if the big Giants do flounder during the “bridge” year, we can really focus on the kids, because they’re the fruit from the farm that Sabes is waiting on.

Foothills Ryan

I don’t think he’s that good at the plate. He’s played in some offensive yards and whatever the #’s are, I don’t they’re much to write home about.

Foothills Ryan

If he’s out of options, he’s out of options. He’d have to clear waivers before any assignment to AAA.

Foothills Ryan

Funny thing about Morse (not really ha ha funny) is that he doesn’t show much in the way of L-R splits. Pretty even Steven. And don’t call him Steve.

Foothills Ryan

Joe Bonamassa did some amazing shredding as he always does. His acoustic set was actually a little better than the loud electric stuff. Better sound anyhow. He’s got his own style, but the closest I can come up with is that he’s the love-child of Gary Moore and Jeff Beck.

Sign Joe Bonamassa to play left field. Boom!

Michael Scott

OMG. Yet another day dawns with the trashing of Blanco. He will be just fine. The empty lip service paid to his defense speaks to the lack of understanding of the value of it.
At best we have 3 starting pitchers who can be counted on- we need to improve the team ERA by .75 runs, Pagan has to play at his 2012 level, Buster needs to justify his huge contract, Scooter has to better than awful defensively, they need someone to play SS when LHers pitch– If Blanco is to be considered a concern, he’s about 8th on the list.
More:
Whether it’s Hector or Susac who might become trade bait will be determined by their 2014 seasons. They might both be here.
Raburn is far and away the best choice if we trade for a RH bat to platoon with Gregor, While he’s no gold glover in LF he’s at least respectable. Rug-Rod ( if Morrison can be “Lo-Mo”, anything gogoes) would be OK.

Lieberman is just as much of a ego-maniac. I do admit that I look at his blog about 1X a month for my local TMZ-like fix.

I was listening to the radio at the exact time this took place…and not once did I think “He’s talking about Lieberman”. In fact, I thought he was referring to the guy that wrote letters for so many years to get Gary fired.

Gary…love him or don’t…he’s a Bay Area icon and many people do like his schtick. I would rather listen to Gary than Brian Murphy, Bob Fitzgerald, Ralph, and every bozo on 95.7 any day.

It’s like sushi…there’s the “like” and “don’t like” camps…and no middle-ground people.

Nate’sFanMom

Good. That’s what I was thinking: if Burrell and Huff played OF, why not a guy like Morse or Trumbo (before the D’backs got him)?

Nate’sFanMom

No one is trashing Blanco. We respect his defense, but the team needs better offensive production. The pressure on the pitching staff is simply unrealistic to sustain.

The most logical place to upgrade is LF. Blanco was given the lion’s share of starts last year. At this point, he is who he is, and in a weak offensive team, you don’t have the luxury of playing a defensive specialist every day or even in a platoon.

DrLefty

I’m guessing LOTS of teams are interested in Hector and a lot fewer in Susac. That’s why no trade yet. Susac’s not ready to be Buster’s backup, so they can’t trade Hector. But I bet they will in a year or so.

DrLefty

It was crab ravioli, and Mr. L loved it. I had lamb stew served over pumpkin squash–yummy. Jeff Tweedy was tremendous and played for two solid hours. Unfortunately, they made us sit through a godawful opening act (a buddy of Tweedy’s) and a lengthy break, so it was 11 p.m. by the time the show ended. That’s late for a Tuesday. Dragging a bit this morning!

Foothills Ryan

Just make sure you aren’t overvaluing the UZR component of WAR. It’s not totally reliable. Blanco would be very valuable in left if the pitching staff was giving up line drives left and right down the lines and in the alleys. Here’s to ground balls and cans of corn for “Mike Morse”.

Foothills Ryan

What does Wilco sound like? Is folk/rock fair?

DrLefty

Yep. And as I recall, Rasmus was a bit of a brat or a diva–something about a helicopter dad?–on the Cardinals, and they dumped him to Toronto a couple years ago.

I guess I’d take him for one year if the price wasn’t too high–just because he does seem to be a better hitter than Blanco–but the price probably WILL be too high.

Keep’n It Real

Anything negative I say about Blanco is only that he’s a #4 OF…and the Giants insist on placing him in a position to be a #3.

He’s a PT player that can give a #1-#3 OFer an off-day, he’s a great defensive replacement for any OF late in the game, and he can pinch run. If you look at the OFers for other contending teams, he wouldn’t be a #3 there either.

People saying anything against Blanco just wants a legitimate #3 OF in the lineup. I don’t sense dislike or lack of appreciation for how he did in support of the 2012 WS Trophy.There’s an upgrade needed in LF for our #3 guy…and it’s time to address it.

Foothills Ryan

Doesn’t have the soul, but definitely the chops. I heard some of Moore in him last night. Jeff Beck is on another planet as far as I’m concerned.

DrLefty

Yes–more folk than rock. Tweedy is an amazing guitarist. He probably used six different guitars at least–a 12-string, guitars tuned or capo’d differently, etc. I really liked it. My husband loves Wilco, and it was a very enthusiastic audience.

Foothills Ryan

Mike Morse could be a coup for the Giants given what the DBacks gave up for Trumbo. However, I imagine Morse’s agent would encourage him to sign a 1 year deal in a band box where he could DH and rack up some #’s. SF wouldn’t seem to be an ideal fit on his end. Here’s to Gregor Blanco and bloggers with two first names 😉

AlOha44

Both Perez AND Blanco are better Defensive Centerfielders than Pagan. Historically, you can live with slightly less offensive production if you are getting ++ Defensive Play out of your Centerfielder, which at Willie Mays Field is VITAL.

Emphasize speed and On Base Percentage from Perez and Blanco and they’ll do just fine. Pagan would be less a liability in LF. Bochy needs to quit coddling Angel’s ego and show him the terrible angles he takes to balls hit over his head.

Buster should start playing some 3B, as a respite from crouching behind the plate. Better to spell Pablo once in a while, than messing with one of the best Defensive, and now a very productive Offensive 1st Baseman in Brandon Belt. I’ve been away from this conversation for a long time, what have all the Belt-Naysayers had to say about Belt’s hot August and September to finish last season? Just curious.

Keep’n It Real

Robert Murray ‏@RobertMurrayMLB1m
RT @michaelgbaron: Corey Hart has a one-year offer in hand from the #Brewers, per @adammccalvy.

Michael Scott

Blanco has been trashed day after day, sorry. The fact is that we have bigger issues than Gregor.
And this is not a weak hitting team, it’s a team that hit poorly last year. There’s a difference.
As to Foots: I understand UZR, thanks for your concern, though.If you are sugesting that Blanco is not a fine defender, that’s absurd- it is true that he and the team are far better off if he was in CF- Pagan is a poor CFer, he should be in LF.
It will be intersting who they do get- most likely it will be nobody or a platoon partner. Both are fine options.

Bapah

Most have known his potential, only the diehards still badmouth him, but likely only to raise some ire.

Michael Scott

As I’ve pointed out, Morse’s hitting directional splits make him a poor choice to play at AT&T.

Nate’sFanMom

I think Morse’s agent wants 3 years.

Mac Williamson, our best OF prospect, won’t ready this year. Pagan’s contract will be up by the time he is, so they Giants should take the plunge on Morse.

AlOha44

How about Angel in the Outfield, Left Field, to be more specific? Platoon Perez and Blanco in Centerfield, and the Giants benefit from better Defense. Or does anyone even CARE about DEFENSE anymore?

Michael Scott

Finally some sanity about LF. Good job.

channelclemente

These sort of issues here have to play out, before anyone actually looks at the data. It’s an emotional instability issue in the young, IMO.

Keep’n It Real

Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN18h
Mike Morse is said by teams to be looking for $7m/$8m range in his one-year deal.

Pagan has 3 more years. Williamson should be ready in 2015. Sabean is obviously very high on him, which is why they don’t want LF tied up. I might have been the first to suggest Morse but I should have perused his splits first.

carmot

Is today the day? Can to-day be THE day?

Gimme an “EL”: ELLL!
Gime an “EF”: EFFF!

Now what’s that spell?LLLllllluuuuulllllllpppppHHHH!

Gimme an “L”: L!
Gime an “F”: F!

Now what’s that spell?… laugh?

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

Alex writes: “if you’re looking for a right-handed hitting outfielder on a short deal? Try two years, $10 million, which is what Rajai Davis got from the Tigers.”

No surprise why a toolsy player like Peguero was immediately snapped up.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

Except for the occasional days a particular nasty lefty pitcher is on the mound, I’d bet Posey will get his rest much more from complete days off in 2014 rather than through a positional switch.

Foothills Ryan

Welcome back and mahalo!

Foothills Ryan

It’s the D component of WAR that is of concern.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

While I have no opinion on Morse joining the Giants, it may be wise to remind yourself from time to time that players are not fixed entities, i.e. they have the ability to adjust.

Foothills Ryan

Blanco’s a nice guy with great legs, a fine glove, and some on-base proclivity, but just for the sake of discussion, name a playoff team from last season that featured a defensive specialist in a corner OF position.

I’ll take the answers off the air.

Michael Scott

Players who were formerly regarded as top prospects are almost always given a few chances. Other teams think they can fix them. They rarely can.

channelclemente

Odd, but I’m not a big Beck fan.

Michael Scott

“they have the ability to adjust’
Actually, most don’t.
Thanks for the input.

Michael Scott

Explain your concern if you please. Thanks.

channelclemente

So would you take Geraldo Parra. Playoff team is just a foolish criteria, like a lot of those you chock around.

avwh

Too bad all the Giants’ A arms weren’t just one year further advanced THIS offseason, since it seems every big bat that’s been shopped since the WS ended, that team wants MLB-ready arms in return.

Next year, the Giants could be “players”, as you said, Lefty.

ClutchUp

Peggs was in the organization for 7 and close to 8 years. He needed a change and SF needed to look elsewhere.

It’s baseball. They play 162 solo games mentally. A win on a Tuesday night versus Milwaukee does nothing the next day at home vs. Houston. Wins can’t be carried over. After losses the media and god knows everyone else wants to know how/why player AB&C missed that FB right down the middle…the manager, GM and the player(s) who failed have already flushed the game that just ended. It HAS TO be that way. Stats don’t play the game. Flawed baseball players *attempt* to play the game. One side vs. the other.

ClutchUp

He should walk more.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

He wasn’t released because he needed a change. The Giants simply felt they had adequate coverage in the OF, as opposed to the INF and fungible relievers – which were the only other areas where a roster spot could have come from.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

Not yet. He had a ~4% walk rate in the minors. Give him 500 major league AB, before you even start thinking he needs to fix his walk rate.

channelclemente

It’s for the fans. To develop some perspective, and baseball knowledge, they made it a bridge year.

The Oracle

You’re absolutely right about LF/RF. If it ends up in a Blanco/Perez platoon, they should be platooning in CF, as both are much better there than Pagan. We’ve talked about that a lot here, but not in a while because it doesn’t seem like the Giants have any inclination to make that move.

Dave Passovoy

I agree with Blanco and Perez needing to concentrate on OBP, but the Giants have failed to get that into his head for a few years now. It is only lightly more maddening than letting Pagan play center.

Foothills Ryan

Good example. 2014 playoff team? I’d take him over Blanco.

BTW, I said discussion, not snark filled argument. Who says snark is for kids?

The Oracle

There was a playoff team from 2012 that featured a defensive specialist exactly like Blanco in LF. As a matter of fact, it was Blanco and his team did pretty well.

pacman68

Blanco is a 5th outfielder at best. Left field is a black hole and our bench is right behind. No way you compete with that product.

Foothills Ryan

Another great entry. Melky Cabrera played how many games in 2012?

pacman68

Without Melky…team doesn’t go to playoffs. He carried us early in the season.

The indians have a very crowded outfield. Look for the Giants to make a trade.

Keep’n It Real

yep…and that platoon situation in LF in 2013 did a great job and replicating Melky’s production. Oh wait….

Foothills Ryan

Lubricate, rinse, repeat. Put on some killer blues, man.

Keep’n It Real

Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN2m
Giants checked in on the David Price sweepstakes, but haven’t gotten into any sort of exchange with the Rays yet.

Michael Scott

What a hoot. 20 walks per 500 AB IN THE MINORS? And you expect significant improvement up here? Plus his power tool is DOA. They waited for it for 8 years.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

That’s a good point. Also, the circumstances surrounding Melky’s departure seemed to galvanize the team for the stretch run – according to the stories told by some of the players.

Keep’n It Real

Cross Corey Hart off the list:

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS37s
corey hart is headed for #mariners, according to sources. 1 year deal. will likely bat behind cano.

Foothills Ryan

In a nutshell:

Mark Trumbo, 34 HRs, 100 RBI’s, 2.5 fWAR

Gregor Blanco, defense, 2.8 fWAR.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

You seem to make a lot of unwarranted assumptions.

Foothills Ryan

damaged goods anyhow.

channelclemente

You’ll be sorry.

ClutchUp

He should NOT let out as much shaft with his swing as he currently does. He’ll pop an HR here and there and his mind takes over his body. He should morph into a line drive-ground ball type hitter but that is easier said than accomplished. With two strikes his goal should be to put the ball in play on the left side of the diamond towards an eventual 5.5 hole. If a SS has to back-hand a ground ball hit by Blanco he probably won’t throw him out. I would like to see him discard the running slap-swing attempt. He’s telling the planet something when he does that and the two IF’s on the left-side start sliding left or right depending on Blanco’s body-language in the box during his slap-swing attempt. Notice when he swings and misses – his balance is way off like a huge power-swing-hitter and his head ends up looking in the stands. All the above is hard for him to re-tweak, much easier for me to state.

channelclemente

The deal the Dodgers are trying to swing with the Rays is, Matt Kemp, prospects, and $$$ for David Price. Rays don’t seem interested.

ClutchUp

I still can’t believe the Ex did not see how valuable your ‘take’ is on subject such as this. Good Job “O”.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

Are we still discussing what needs to be fixed on Peguero? In this format, I appreciate short posts with singular points.

The ‘critics’ might just look at the RS category, realizing that about 6 or so runs saved equals a game.

ClutchUp

Regarding one of our current Left-fielders Gregor Blanco – he should NOT “let out as much shaft” with his swing as he currently does. He’ll pop an HR here and there and his mind takes over his body. He should morph into a line drive-ground ball type hitter but that is easier said than accomplished. With two strikes his goal should be to put the ball in play on the left side of the diamond towards an eventual 5.5 hole.

If a SS has to back-hand a ground ball hit by Blanco he probably won’t throw him out. I would like to see him discard the running slap-swing attempt. He’s telling the planet something when he does that and the two IF’s on the left-side start sliding left or right depending on Blanco’s body-language in the box during his slap-swing attempt.

Notice when he swings and misses – his balance is way off like a huge power-swing-hitter and his head ends up looking in the stands. All the above is hard for him to re-tweak, much easier for me to state.

Keep’n It Real

San Francisco Giants ‏@SFGiants3m
Giants scout Doug Mapson named 2013 West Coast Scout of the Year by the Scout of the Year program today at the #WinterMeetings in Orlando.

channelclemente

To your point, ground balls with an initial velocity off the bat of 90+ mph have a 60% chance of going for a hit.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

I don’t parse and read Nigerian e-mails either.

ClutchUp

That’s a great honor for Mapson – found – re-found BB9 after the Redsox and Atlanta drafted him originally.

ClutchUp

Amen!

Michael Scott

What’s “unwarranted”? They aren’t assumptions. You’re the one with unsupportable comments- he’ll improve his walk rate after 500 big league ABs. That he’ll even get 500 MLB at bats.
It’s not an assumption that hackers rarely change. If a team wants a patient hitter, draft him or acquire him. There are exceptions but they don’t disprove the “rule”.

ClutchUp

Athletics trade Blevins to the Nats for Milb OF Billy Burns.

ClutchUp

What’s the 411 on Bartolo Colon?

Moooooooooose

That’s why you’re not filthy rich!

pacman68

You can cross Corey Hart off your list. Just went to Mariners on a one year deal. Yeah, but we don’t need a left fielder. They did fine last year.

Michael Scott

Actually his LD % is first on the team among regulars..The pitchers seem to have the highest GB rates, He’s 44.3. He and Scooter have the highest combined GB and LD percentage among the regulars. Just as it should be.

pacman68

You mean like the pitcher with a broken leg damage goods or what do you mean?

ClutchUp

January – February deal Pac…

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

Don’t get your feathers all puffed, clutch. It should be obvious that this format is best suited for singularly pointed remarks.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

The assumption here is obvious, i.e. that I think his walk rate will improve.

You seem to be the type of person who has fixed opinions stemming from unvetted assumptions. That’s not a recipe for exceptional critical thinking.

channelclemente

From looking at his numbers, Blanco’s problem isn’t a rate, % problem so much as getting bat on ball enough.

Foothills Ryan

You know what they say about LD % ?

Michael Scott

Questionable that Hart can even play the OF anymore. And if they’re to get a LFer they hardly need a guy whose health is still in doubt.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

This is a nice riff off of my original, unedited, reply (something about not reading nigerian emails either). Nice.

Foothills Ryan

Nice eyes, scout. My beefareeno with Blanco is the K’s. He did bring them down from ’12 to ’13, so he is making adjustments. But pitchers are sure to make adjustments in turn, such as: pitch to the guy, go after him, don’t give him a free pass.

Michael Scott

Now we know Gregor’s problem- no drugs.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

Exactly.

channelclemente

Has anyone ever asked or read about Blanco being asked if the wrist problem he had surgery for in 2011 (?) is a non-issue today.

Foothills Ryan

M’s are full of questionable moves.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

That might work, but pitchers will counter by pounding him inside, He has to be able to be productive when pulling the ball to keep pitchers out of his kitchen.

Foothills Ryan

Do you really have the M’s pulling ahead of the A’s, or was that chain tugging?

Foothills Ryan

just looking at #’s, guys with high K rates and low (sub .100 ISO), should be weeded out. But the BB has enabled Blanco to pick up MLB paychecks. Sign a midget, he can stroll to 1B.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

Is a possible wrist problem consistent with Blanco’s demonstrated ability to stay hot for a month long stretch of games?

Shankbone

Everywhere. I think part of the run-down of Sanchez is the remnants of the lunatic fringe desperately seeking some sign of an incompetent front office… reduced to raging on the backup catcher. Who can switch hit. And has upside because of his youth and relative lack of pro experience.

Foothills Ryan

For diqussion. WAR, what is it good for?

Mark Trumbo, 34 HRs, 100 RBI’s, 2.5 fWAR

Gregor Blanco, defense and some BB’s, 2.8 fWAR.

Michael Scott

Of course they will. Cano is not only a terrific player, he’ll help attract more good players. Be good and I’ll add a few feet to your leash..

Foothills Ryan

Who’s missing on his value? Any body with a head knows he’s a valuable commodity, especially to the Giants.

Shankbone

Signed Jesse Foppert! A good little reminder as we admire the riches of the various starting rotations in the farm system.

Shankbone

That seems light for his HR potential. If true, then teams are really scared off his injury report.

The Oracle

Excellent example. Very Foothillsian. WAR isn’t even a statistic.

Foothills Ryan

and then there’s the mercenaries hired to seek and destroy the loony fringe, wherever they are hiding.

Foothills Ryan

2013 Richmond and Fresno?

I saw Jesse Foppert in Whole Foods Fresno with a cute blonde many moons ago. Said “waddup, good luck on your rehab and getting back to the show”.

Foothills Ryan

just fit me with a shock collar

Foothills Ryan

Thank you

Foothills Ryan

Shout out to Stickman who is having some IT issues with his Apple Abacus. Stick, if you’re lurking, post a comment on a more compatible Giants blog and we’ll post it here. We miss your alliterative posts about the Tall Texans Tangoing after back to back bombooskies.

Speaking of hot stove, I think a cooking throw down is in order between Stick and his cast iron wood stove and Michael and his three Michelin Star range top. I’d pay to eat and judge this event.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

Alex writes: “Plenty of calls have come in on Escobar and Hector Sanchez, the latter of whom is said to be doing well health-wise after an up-and-down year. ‘People look at him as a potential frontline catcher,’ Sabean said.”

Sabean needs to take Matthew’s calls on Hector.

ClutchUp

Head Varsity Baseball Coach at Marin Catholic HS. He’s “giving back”. He’s a University of San Francisco twice a week.

ClutchUp

His bat is quick enough to pull non-two strike pitches. His issue has been his two strike pre-pitch approach. He gives off the notion that he has no hitting plan with two strikes as he does several things with two strikes: Hits a can of corn, Strikes out on a pitch that would have been a ball or on 3-2 would have been ball four. Getting better as a hitter is a learned skill.

Shankbone

I was a member. Took some draftin’ to seek and destroy me.

Dave Passovoy

If he was talking positively about a youngster it was because Sabean told him to in order to keep the prices down. Good to see you are realistic about LF pre-trade deadline this year.

channelclemente

You know that’s irrelevant, and a function of what pitchers see as holes in his swing as he makes adjustments.

channelclemente

Unless he has a wrist that is stiff, and perhaps not flexible enough to get inside the pitch.

ClutchUp

The (only) person who knows for sure is BamBam Muelens (imo)

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

Yep

Moooooooooose

Were you crying about not getting BJ Upton about this time last year? I suspect yes.

channelclemente

Truthfully, his numbers don’t say that though. He tries to pull everything. He did not have a hit in a 3-0 count last year, because he takes everything in that situation. Consequently, he’s forever 3-2 and lost and overanxious. Yet he’s hitting ~.400 in 2-0 counts. He’s out guessing himself, and ought to be green lighted more. With 2 strikes, he hasn’t hit a ball at his waste or above in the zone, yet outside the zone, where he can’t pull it, he’s hitting ~.300 everywhere knee to shoulders.

IMO, a classic case of a guy with too slow a bat trying to pull pitches he can’t possibly pull.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

No need to drop in tautology to me. However, at the end of the day ( yes, intentional sabeanism), poor skill at pitch recognition often looks like a hitter having no plan.

Michael Scott

Tell me. Actually, it’s mostly very good hitters with good ones. But I’m not saying he’s a good hitter overall- but he does get on base, and the attempts to obsfuscate that are lame- no knowledgeable observer dismisses the value of getting on base.
But it’s the *obsession* with LF that is totally over the top. We had 2 of the 5 worst starting pitchers in the NL (with 100 innings or more ) and their replacements were worst. And 2 more starters had subpar years. ONE reliable starting pitcher and you’re ragging on Blanco? And for you “clutch hitter” folks- he was very good last year. That will even out, but for 2013, he was one of our best.

Michael Scott

I’m sending him an upgrade on his IMac.

Keep’n It Real

Andrew Baggarly ‏@CSNBaggs59s
Hearing the Giants have developed a couple pivot points to add a left fielder. Possibly today. Stay tuned.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

That’s interesting, without consulting the data, it seems to me that most pitchers successfully worked Blanco up and down, rather than side to side.

Be careful about drawing conclusions from a batting average by count. Better to look at hit rate by count.

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

Irrelevant? I disagree. A creaky wrist makes it difficult to perform consistently. Not only does it mess with one’s ability to execute, it also impedes concentration.

channelclemente

How about looking at all of it, on Brooks.

channelclemente

Disagreement is absolutely free.

Matthew

He’s a hefty chia pet.

Keep’n It Real

LOL

Matthew

Didn’t know you were a leg man, Footy…” It must be from France…it says ‘fruh-gee-lay’….”

ClutchUp

The issue apparently was that guys like Andres the Forever and Gregor grew up being mentored by countrymen and others in baseball that MORE is better. I’m here to tell that when hitters take an inordinate amount of pregame work in the tunnel…cages and on the field – they are fatiguing their wrists and forearms beyond what they need to do in that nights contest. They apparently had to step in and back Blanco way off what he thought was necessary. On top of that (at my level and in college) youngish hitters ONLY ended up “perfecting bad habits”

I just don’t have the time to verify my opinion with data at the moment. I’m running out the door right now, in fact.

ClutchUp

I don’t think I meant it only for you.

ClutchUp

Who’s writing your material? Sam?

Public_Service_forthe_Ignorati

Fair enough.

ClutchUp

2WS in 3Yrs = nice reporting

channelclemente

Has he always used that huge bat?

Keep’n It Real

Twitter is a beautiful thing :-))

BTW…Mark Purdy was taking on some A’s fans on twitter (about moving to San Jose) and Rich Lieberman has chosen to chime in and be anti-Wolff. Twitter war! Twitter war!! LOL

Bapah

yes

ClutchUp

Gary Radnich has also resumed his war with 415Rich only it was over the air on KNBR. Raddy’s clock is ticking…

ClutchUp

I think that was Andres Torres. He got that original reco from (cough) Juan Gonzalez but I believe Yungo went to a much lighter bat by 2012.

Keep’n It Real

Did you read my previous comment on this? Lieberman was the only one making it known that Gary was opening up a scar. I heard what he said, when he said it, and there was nothing obvious going on.

Michael Scott

Why don’t you just list the values you have decided are worthless? As with this example, you’ve selected what you think is a worthless value although it can be seen by even a casual perusal of the WAR leaders that it’s the best players who consistently have the best WAR.

ClutchUp

Rich must be lonely then…

ClutchUp

OFF Topic – Local bay area HS Bishop O’Dowd hires new head football coach Napolean Kaufman – late of the Raiders. Hardy Nickerson resigned. Currently Kaufman is a pastor in Livermore California.

Robert Murray ‏@RobertMurrayMLB39s
#Mets agree to two-year deal with Bartolo Colon, according to @YankeesWFAN. Deal is pending physical.

ClutchUp

Edinson Volquez found a home with the Pirates

ClutchUp

Barolo will fast for two days then ace his physical

Michael Scott

Free.

paul in p.v.

Snorkel, who is normally quite conservative, has a really good feeling that Hudson will be hawesome in black-and-orange, and galvanize the rest of the pitching staff. Studson Hudson! :o)

ClutchUp

Even at 38 yrs old Adam Kennedy would add depth to the SF bench …

channelclemente

Blanco swings an oak too, if I recall.

Keep’n It Real

Andrew Baggarly ‏@CSNBaggs20s
MLB announces, officially, that rules to prohibit intentional collisions at the plate will be enforced in 2014. Bruce Bochy wins the day.

Foothills Ryan

Yikes.They could also literally add a couple of inches for their bumbooskies on the bench. There, depth.

Foothills Ryan

It’s high time for some relentless rivers of optimism. I’m there. Let’s Go Hudson! That’s in NYC though :-

Foothills Ryan

Better 2014, Volkey or Volgie? Interesting buy low on Edinson. I think the stuff is still there.

Foothills Ryan

2 slices ! Nice for the Mets, but they need some O.

channelclemente

Well hot damn, now if Posey will go back to the traditional mask, and keep his brains in his brain box, it’ll be progress.

Foothills Ryan

If you make contact with oak, that ball will go far.

Michael Scott

Did someone mention this-Bochy won over Scioscia, probably the most diehard of the opponents of a rule change.

Foothills Ryan

You’ve converted on the mask. Or was this always your position?

channelclemente

The hockey mask, as has always been my opinion, is a false security blanket.

Keep’n It Real

I read that too. Must have really presented some good stuff to get Scioscia on board. I’m sure Metheny’s presence/support helped too.

ClutchUp

Carmot should PLEASED that the Giants have spoken with the White Sox about the availability of Centerfielder Alejandro De Aza according to John Shea. Carmie’s a Pale-Hose fan.

channelclemente

I think LaRussa coming around helped as well.

Foothills Ryan

Shout out to Totalfan62 in Atlanta. There’s probably a blog on the Constitution site called Extra Chops or something or another where fans are pulling their hair out over inactivity: “We’ve lost McCann and Hudson and Wren is asleep at the wheel – the division is lost to the Nats- trade Uggla, etc.”

Foothills Ryan

It’s for hockey and slasher movies.

paul in p.v.

One less arm in the diggers’ stockpile, no? :o)

channelclemente

Or ablative heat shield for reentry.

Foothills Ryan

Choo suitors are thinning out. Maybe his price point comes down to a point where the Giants enter the picture. Interesting about the rumor that the Giants “checked” on David Price. Kicking tires, checking under hoods, plugging into the diagnostic computer, etc.

channelclemente

He’s a platoon bat, they finally looked and said their Emily Litella exit line.

Keep’n It Real

here ya go…

Andrew Baggarly ‏@CSNBaggs37s

Source tells me #SFGiants are negotiating with Jeff Baker. Rakes lefties, good defender, high character guy. Would fit in Blanco platoon.

Foothills Ryan

Exit and reentry from the atmosphere is crazy. We’re living in a sci-fi movie and we’re the paleolithic audience.

ClutchUp

Si Senor Snorks

Foothills Ryan

That’s a guy we’ve been after and his name has been mum. Makes sense, the guy no one is talking about is the guy Sabes is going after. I’ve been on him for a while. Good job Sabes for doing that thing to the tires.

I can visualize Schulman and Shea in the same phone both, putting their shoes on.

Keep’n It Real

Alex Pavlovic ‏@AlexPavlovic1m
I’m told Giants haven’t made offer to Baker, no current plan to do so.

DrLefty

I can’t imagine the Dbacks are going to outslug the Yankees, Rangers, Angels, Cubs, etc. for Tanaka. They’re not a team that wins those kinds of bidding wars, and Tanaka gets to negotiate with whomever he wants to.

channelclemente

Maybe, another Vogelson-esque story is developing quitely via Pat Burrell.

Missed you! In answer to your question, the Belt Naysayers have quieted a bit, but the late-season comments were (a) Well, he’s a jerk for not listening to his coaches and changing his grip sooner and (b) He only hits when the season’s not on the line and it doesn’t matter. Haterz gotta hate.

ClutchUp

SEE BELOW – FROM STICKMAN

Stirring it up again, eh, Footsie? Well, you asked for it! Computer room/study/pantry is one of two in the old shack which were never insulated back when uncle Clarence added em on in ’43 when building materials mostly went to the war effort. Eleven below ZERO for today’s daytime high (they were promising us all the way up to -4 but it didn’t cloud over till late afternoon) so my feet stay a bit chilled when in this cubicle.

Hot stove league in Seven League boots here in the white and frozen Northwoods, with both the Fosterbilt wood heater in the living room and the wood cookstove in the sagging, shed-roof kitchen which my grandfather Magnus added on in 1916, getting constant attention during waking hours. This morning when i came down from the upstairs bedroom (much of the heat rises up there and the cats clutter the comfortzone up there) the heating stove was down to a coalition government and the cookstove was dead cold. About half an inch of ice graced a couple of waterpails and the kittywater was near solid. So tell me about hot stove leagues and i’m likely to write the book ~ after finishing the yet to be started “Life in a Cathouse”.

Seeing where the Giants missed out on another bat as Corey Hart got scooped up by the Mariners who evidently are hoping that more people come to See Attle besides the hordes of would have been Amsterdamers looking to get zoned outta their minds. In Washington as in Colorado Planning and Zoning Commissions may take on whole new layers of meaning.

Michael and i have something going outside of the relativity of his championship cuisine and my common country cooking. Some years back i was the initial winner in one of his Giants oriented computer giveaway contests and he sent me a new, high-power p.c. complete with buzzers and bells.That worked long enough alongside my old iMac for me to catch a bit of video coverage of the Giants in the first W.S. Championship year. But then things started going downhill. So he replaced that one with a Zotac which currently gathers dust about a foot from my elbow.

Posting on another blog as TwinFan, Michael is the son of the late great Twins broadcaster Ray Scott, whom my father, known among the neighborhood kids in Richfield as “Scoreboard” for his religious intensity in listening to WCCO broadcasts, followed regularly on the radio. Anyway, Michael diagnosed the problem with the P.C.’s as stemming from bad electrical circuits in the old shack. So he’s planning on swapping me a battery-powered, router-activated, portable Apple unit which should bypass the 1943 add-on to 1940 original REA wiring. Ta Da.

Winter witnesses the gradual demise of my common country cookin, as the garden provender is mostly limited nowadays to roots and such. Meanwhile Michael has all the goodies of California’s wonderland of possibilities at his regular beck and call. So no contest.

Last night’s supper was so-so not too bad, though. My friend Dawn came up with a recipe featuring wild rice that i got a good couple of helpings of about a month back. Her hubby Ron and an Ojibwe friend from the Red Lake Rez harvested a pile of local area lake rice in September. Ron gifted me with a nice bag of it. So following Dawn’s lead, i soaked some dried shiitakes, diced up some tofu and added them to the precooked rice along with some (all chefs will shudder) cream soup. My slight variation on the theme was the addition of previously sauteed cabbage from the rock-girt central garden and a few slices of the remaining small, green tomatoes as well as some previously sauteed, almost dried-out varietal peppers from that same garden and about two heaping tablespoons of garlic.

My head was still too frozen this morning to come up with anything interesting and exciting for breakfast, so the leftover rice hotdish got amplified by blending in a couple of homegrown big, brown eggs from Amish neighbors.

Supposing all the Giants blogs are full of frustration (and in isolated cases, venom) towards Sabean and his Train Bust for not doing more to build up the team in the offseason. He could be hunkering back in the weeds like some ancient bass waiting to make the sudden shocking blitzkrieg move ~ or, he could be hamstrung by ownership ~ or, he could be confident, as he has said lately, that Perez is a comer and that between him and Blanco LF is in good hands. We still could use a perhaps aging, but scary bat on the bench, though.

{i’m looking forward to rejoining GE probably before the month is up }

ClutchUp

AMEN my brother :>)

channelclemente

So will you be polar bear clubing this season?

ClutchUp

“Dodgerblue” was released: “A Los Angeles man who placed prank calls about job openings to prominent professional coaches was released from jail on $20,000 bail Tuesday according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s booking records. His next court date is set for Dec 31. He was arrested Monday and booked on suspicion of felony eves-dropping for recording phone conversations without the consent of the people on the calls, with is illegal in California. The case had yet to reach the district attorney’s office Tuesday. Los Angeles police said their two-month investigation includes coaches from across pro sports.” USA Today

I’ve caught BP with both. The original catchers mask and beanie cap is the only way to go. Much safer on foul-tip-blows. If ‘you’ get popped in the ear for turning ones head…’you’ don’t know how to catch.

channelclemente

Given what he used to do, he’s worth a look, IMO. Interesting that Burrell’s on the scene, isn’t he on the Giant’s payroll?

Which reminds me of my suggestion for the Halloween costumes for Baggarly and Shulman: Laurel and Hardy

channelclemente

I always thought Baggarly looked like Gene Siskel, the TV critic. Same comb over too.

Keep’n It Real

He is.

channelclemente

It certainly drew my eye to the article.

ClutchUp

We see you made bail.

carmot

I’m not a White Sox fan. I think CHW are/have been one of the few teams we match up best with for a trade. These two things are not the same.

I’m not all that interested in De Aza. Don’t let his power (17 HR) fool you. He’s only a *slight* or incremental upgrade from Blanco IMO. Not really worth the trade cost. CLE Michael Brantley is more worthy as a larger incremental upgrade from Blanco IMO.

I think we could’ve landed Hector Santiago. I’d still like the flexibility and depth Marcus Semien would give us.

ClutchUp

Semien is a foundational CWS piece imo

Keep’n It Real

Do you all have your “grain of salt” ready?

Andrew Baggarly ‏@CSNBaggs2m

#SFGiants VP Bobby Evans said “ideally we’d like to get something done” tonight in LF. I hear Franklin Gutierrez is a name they like.

ClutchUp

Home Plate umpires will now have the task of figuring it all out….”Hey catcher, get off the dish, your blocking the plate”…”

ClutchUp

A walking disabled list guy…

Foothills Ryan

that’s almost an oxymoron !

carmot

That’s your opinion. They have a bazillion IF prospects and some MLB options already. And he’s struggled in the AFL. So, I don’t think they’d e loathe to trading him if it fills another need. YMMV. Or MMMV from yours.

carmot

Yeah, Clutch keeps claiming Jan-Feb. Yesterday I said within the next 24 hours. Time’s ticking, thought it might be done by now. There’s still some time before the end of the night in Orlando.

Our new laugh? Oh sorry, I mean LF, which is pronounced “left fielder,” right? Hmmm. And BTW, Jeff Baker is NOT a left fielder, he’s a laugh. I mean, he’s suited for infield, not outfield IMO.

avwh

Saw a tweet that the Mariners are still loading up on all possible DHs again…Hart now fits that mold.

They also got Logan Morrison.

Which must mean Smoak is toast in Seattle.

Michael Scott

The “expert” Hot Stove guys are not immune from the “I new it along” virus. Recently a blurb on MLBTR bragged that Dierkes predicted that some team may swing a trade …and by gosh they did. Quite the scoop, Tim…

carmot

MLBTR is quite good at reminding us when their contract estimates are extremely close/accurate. But when they’re off by $30 mil and/or 2-3 years… You won’t find a mention of what they predicted. Coincidence?

Walter Guest

Giants looking at Jeff Baker to play let field? Baker is tough on lefties.

Next time folks draw on Schulman and Shea, remember it’s a vaudeville act.

carmot

Oh great, pointing out parts of what we overcame. Hey, wasn’t Wellemeyer our #5 starter at season’s opening too? Let’s revisit that then too. I don’t see how people (like Schulman) want to use these points to justify “we can do it with ______.” Isn’t the idea to build it better?

They only thing I’m grateful for at this point is the idea that we’re looking at *possible* full-time options- I mean not eliminating a LHB option for LF. Asking on guys Aoki, Gardner, etc. At least asking about Trumbo (even if he’s not a perfect “fit,” but really, WHO is?).

Torres eventually took over CF. Early on there was much displeasure in the blogosphere that he was taking playing time away from Bowker in RF. The OF eventually became Burrell, Torres, and Ross, no platoon.

Matthew

If it doesn’t go as planned, it will be the Jump Off The Bridge Year…for the emotional ones

carmot

Yeah, I can’t see it either. I don’t know if Tanaka has even signed an agent, haven’t seen word on this still. But IF his agent has any sense of perspective to share, maybe ARI isn’t a great destination? I mean, even if they have the largest offer? Yeah, get another team to match it.

In fact, (if he gets posted) I’d dare say that the Giants could put themselves right into the forefront of bidding with a maximum of something like 18M per year for 6-years. Adding the 20M posting fee, that’s 21.33M AAV.

It’s not just that he’s in his prime years and likely to earn his value. Imagine if we then had a couple arms equivalent to a Garza, Dempster, Price, Anderson, or Skaggs that we could deal within the next two years? Wowzer!

Michael Scott

Gardner is at least enough of an upgrade to justify giving up a minor league player or two. Often that is overlooked- is the upgrade at one spot enough to justify what is given up? Most of the names thrown out over the few weeks don’t justify what we’d have to give up.other than Gardner the names on Murray’s list don’t rate giving up one of our best prospects.IMO.

channelclemente

I’d think it a gift to see the Giants add 6+ games to the win column, consolidate a 3-4 year window of true competitive October baseball in a bunch of young guys. With that kind of ball being played, you get to see young guys careers open up, new talents developing, and fun and enthusiasm grow to a crescendo. And who knows, maybe this year we get lucky. What’s not to like.

Peter Johnson

The hurry is, if the player is good another team will get him before the Giants,if you snooze you lose!

channelclemente

No, not really. The talent level being looked at is actually pretty marginal.

DrLefty

The really important stats of 2010 are that the Giants led the majors in ERA and in defense (fielding percentage). Wilson at his very best, Lincecum and Cain superb, J. Sanchez’s best year, solid rookie season for MadBum, almost 200 innings from Zito.

DrLefty

By “eventually,” you mean the postseason. They picked up Ross in late August, and except for when Torres was out with his appendix in September, Ross didn’t start. Jose Guillen was the one in the lineup everyday, all the way up to Game 162. What an odd little interlude THAT was!